Studies on Rigidity and Crystalization of Behav-Ior

Abstract

Variability of food approach and shock avoidance behavior was studied using 12 rats in running and jumping situations. Following results were obtained. 1) Approach behavior was variable in the running situation; but it lost its variability in the jumping situation. 2) Avoidance behavior was fixated to direction both for running and for jumping. 3) There were at least two pieces of evidence for the apparent abnormal nature of fear motivated avoidance behavior. It was concluded that Maier's abnormal fixation might at least partly be due to an intrinsic nature of a fear motivated behavior. This tendency of a fear motivated behavior to fixate might have been enhanced in a situation in which S was forced jumping.